Device for projecting the different positions of stars



Nov. 23 192s. 1,608,301

P. W. CHARTON DEVICE FOR PROJECTING THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS OF STARS Filed April 21 1925 w m BY Y 6 AT RNEYS.

Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

UIE' STATES T FFIC PAUL \V. GHARTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DEVICE FOR PEOJECTING THE DIFFERENT POSITIONS F STARS.

Application filed April 21, 1925. Serial No. 24,777.

This invention relates to a device for projecting on a screen images of star constellations observed at various time periods and in various directions by astronomical observers and it is the principal object of the bined with means for shifting the projector to project any desired celestial direction, etc.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become more fully known as the description thereof proceeds, and will then be specifically defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an apparatus constructed according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a view .seen when looking through the projector in the position illustrated in Fig. i.

Fig. 41 is a perspective view of the plates with the stars on one plate, and the horizon on the other, and fragmentary portion of the projector. V

The apparatus may be used to 1. Show the apparent movement of the stars in their relative position with regard to the horizon.

2. To show the apparent movement of the stars and panorama for an observer looking arounc.

3. To show the apparent movement for an observer looking from the horizon up to the zenith according to the graduations representing the celestial directions and the hours and days of the. year.

The apparatus comprises a sect onal projector and 10 through which a l ght may b ec d, po ted, by" a ram 9 bretk 11, to hold these parts in their relative po sitions. A circular guide disk 21 has an elongate-d aperture 21 which straddles the projector 10, and racks 1 1 and are fixed to this disk 21 by the screws 21. he projector 10 has brackets 12 and 13 fixed to its sides, and abut against the racks 14-. and 15 to guide these racks in vertical motion. Fixed on the top of the projector 10 is another bracket 12 which serves as a bearing for the shaft 18 carrying gears 16 and 17, which respectively mesh with said racks, and an operating, knob wheel 19 is also fixed to said shaft 18. Turning the knob 19 will re sult in raising or lowering the disk 21 within the limits of the slot 21, but it should be noticed that the disk 21 is not revolvable, due of course to the abutting brackets 12 and 13.

On the periphery of the disk 21 a revolvable frame is mounted, consisting of circular block 39 having internal rack teeth 34, and plate 31 fastened to block 39 by screws 39. A bracket 37 is fixed to the disk 21, and supports a shaft 36 with a gear 35 meshing with the rack teeth 3 1 on one end, and on the other end an operating knob 38. Turning the knob 38 will result in the frame, consisting of parts 39 and 31, revolving about the guide disk 21.

On the periphery of the plate 31 another revolvable frame is mounted, consisting of circular block having rack teeth 25 on its outer periphery, plate 24 fastened to the circular block 25 by screws 32, and plate fastened to plate 24: by screws 42. A bracket 28 is iixed to plate 31 by screw 29, and operatively supports a gear 26 meshing with the rack teeth 25, and an operating knob 27. Turning the knob 27 results in the complete frame on the outer periphery of plate 31, which consists of parts 25 24c, and 30, revolving about 31.

At this. stage of the disclosure an explanatory word or two is necessary. Hereafter the term horizon plate will be used to designate a transparent plate 23 having along its outer edge an opaque contour of a horizon 23 or a panoramic view and silhouette. This horizon is supposed to represent the horizon which one would see when standing in a certain place, and'slowly turning around. Hereafter the term star plate will be used to. designate a plate 22 having a uniform ev l? at bl e o era-germane 60 9 i representing the sky, and dots left uncolored representing stars forming the various fig ures of the constellations.

The horizon plate 28 is ield in a frame 33 which is secured to plate 31, and the star plate 22 is secured to plate 2 1-. It should be noticed that both the star and horizon plates pass between the projectors 10, and 10. The circular plate 25 has arranged along the outer side graduations denoting the single days of the year, while graduations indicating the hours of the day are marked on plate 31 adjacent the former markings. Block 89 having inscriptions on its face denoting the direction of a compass in respect to the horizon plate.

Turn the knob 19 so that upon looking through the projectors, a portion of the horizon and the accompanying stars are seen, as shown in Figs. 3 and 1. This is the equivalent, say of an observer looking towards the south horizon, on a certain day at a certain hour. Manipulating knob 38 will result in both the horizon and star plate simultane" ously turning, which is the equivalent of the observer turning his gaze away from the south horizon to either the east or west horizon, and this'will show the other stars, on the different portions of the horizon on the same day and hour. Manipulating knob 27 will result in the star plate moving, while the horizon plate remains stationary. This is the equivalent ofan observer watching the same horizon at different days orhours as indicated by the scales. And finally upon the manipulation of knob 19, the guide disk 21 may be projected upwards so that the horizon is moved off the vision of the projectors, which is equivalent to an observer looking from the horizon upwards, to the zenith according to the graduations representing the celestial directions, and the hours and days of the year.

It is to be understood that the form illustrated in the drawing is the preferred form of my device and that such changes may be made in the 'eneral arrangement and in the construction of the minor details as fall within the scope of the appended claims without departure from the spirit of my invention. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: j j

1. An apparatus for projecting images of star constellations in their relative positions at any day. and hour during the year, and in their relative celestial directions, comprising a frame supporting a projector, apanoramic view and silhouette horizon plate rotataloly supported with asmall portion thereof in thepath of projection of said projector, panoramic view and silhouette horizon. image means attached to said plate, a i star constellation plate rotatahly supported with a small portion thereof in the s'amepath of projection of the said projector and the said horizon plate, star constellation image means attached to said constellation plate, and means for adjusting the relative positions of said plates with respect to each other, and both plates with respect to the path of projection of said projector.

2. An apparatus'for projecting images of star constellations in their relative positions at any day and hour during the year, and in their relative celestial directions, comprising a frame supporting a projector, a panoramic view and silhouette horizon plate rotatably supported by a frame having inscriptions on its face denoting the direction of a compass in respect to the horizon, with a small portion thereof in the path of projection of said projector, panoramic view and silhouette horizon image means attached to said plate, a star constellation plate rotatably supported with a small portion thereof in the same path of projection of the said projector and the said horizon plate, star constellation image means attached to said constellation plate, and means for adjusting the relative positions of said plates with respect to each other, and both plates with respect to the path of projection of said projector.

An apparatus. for projecting images of star constellations in their relative positions at any day and hour during the year, and in their relative celestial directions, comprising a frame supporting a projector, a panoramic View and silhouette horizon plate rotatably supported by a frame having inscriptions on its face denoting the direction of a compass in respect to the horizon, with a small portion thereof in the path of projection of said projector, panoramic view and silhouette horizon image means attached to said plate,

a star constellation plate rotatably supported by a frame having graduations denoting the single days of the year, ad acent with graduations indicating the hours of the day which are marked on the horizon plate frame, with a small portion thereof in the same path of projection of the said projector and the said horizon plate, star constellation image means attached to said constellation plate, and means for adjusting the relative positions of said plates withrespect to each other, and both plates with respect to the path of projection of said projector.

4 In an apparatus ofthe class described, 7

a frame supportinga projector, a panoramic view and silhouette horizon plate rotatably supported *ith a small portion thereof in the path of projection of said projector, panoramic view and silhouette horizon image means attached to said plate, a star constellation plate rotatably supported with a small portion thereof in the same ath 'of rojection of the saidp'rojector an the saic hori zon plate, star constellation image means at tached to said constellation plate, and means for adjusting the relative positions of said plates with respect to each other, and both plates with respect to the path of projection of said projector, to show the apparent movement of the stars, and panorama for an observer looking around.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame supporting a projector, a panoramic view and silhouette horizon plate rotatably supported by a frame having inscriptions on its face denoting the direction of a compass in respect to the horizon, with a small portion thereof in the path of projection of said projector, panoramic view and silhouette horizon image means attached to said plate, a star constellation plate rotatably supported with a small portion thereof in the same path of projection of the said projector and the said horizon plate, star constellation image means attached to said constellation plate, and means for adjusting the relative positions of said plates with respect to each other, and both plates with respect to the path of projection of said projector, to show the apparent movement of the stars in their relative position with regard to the horizon.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame supporting a projector, a panoramic view and silhouette horizon plate rotatably supported by a frame having inscriptions on its face denoting the direction of a compass in respect to the horizon, with a small portion thereof in the path of projection of said projector, panoramic view and silhouette horizon image means attached tosaid'plate, a star constellation plate rotatably supported by a frame having graduations denoting the single days of the year, adjacent with graduations indicating the hours of the day which are marked -on the horizon plate frame, with a small portion thereof in the same path of projection of the said projector and the said horizon plate, star constellation image means attached to said constellation plate, and means for adjusting the relative positions of said plates With respect to each other, and both plates with respect to the path of projection of said projector, to show the apparent movement for an observer looking from the horizon up to the zenith accord ing to the graduations representing the celestial directions, and the hours and days of the year.

In testimony whereof I have alfixed my signature. I

PAUL W. CHARTON. 

